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Time, gender and carbon

New Paper by SLRG Associate Dr Angela Druckman et al.

Time, gender and carbon: A study of the carbon implications of British adults' use of time

Co-Authors are Ian Buck, Bronwyn Hayward and Tim Jackson

As communities struggle to reduce carbon emissions, a study published by researchers from the University of Surrey explores whether changing the way people use their time can make a difference. The study estimated the carbon emissions per hour of different types of activities outside paid and voluntary work-time. The researchers found that leisure activities were generally associated with lower carbon emissions than non-leisure activities. For example, activities such as eating and drinking (including preparing food and washing up), and commuting, emit nearly 4kg of carbon per hour, compared to around just 1kg of carbon per hour for leisure pursuits. The research suggests that a better understanding of how time-use can influence our carbon footprint could help generate more successful strategies in our quest for a lower carbon future. For more details click here.